Bo Brown and Ed Duplessis tangle during the Pitbull Drill earlier in the week.

Football 8/13/2015 4:54:00 PM by Matthew Bonnette, Asst. AD/Sports Information Director

Linebackers playing with a lot of bite

LAKE CHARLES – Their bite is louder than the bark. Or in other words, there's not a lot of talking. But when they hit, you'll know it.

That's how this year's McNeese linebacker group has been observed so far through the first week of fall camp. A group that features one starter – senior Bo Brown – and two others with ample playing time – sophomores Ashari Goins and Christian Jacobs – these linebackers are making their actions speak for them.

Just call them Pitbulls.

That's what associate head coach and defensive coordinator Lance Guidry has labeled the style of defense he wants his players to play. But don't get caught getting a poodle.

A "Pitbull" is anything from a forced turnover to a hard hit, a good play, or a scoring play. A "Poodle," well that's when the offense scores, there are missed tackles, or just sloppy play.

After the first week of camp there have been far more Pitbulls than poodles for the entire defense, especially the linebacker group, a group that features three of the most ferocious Pitbulls on the team in the trio previously mentioned.

"Bo, of course, is the most experienced," said Guidry. "He's played in a lot of football games and keeps getting better and better each year. Of course, he knows the defense like the back of his hand. He's a Katy (Texas) kid and he's used to winning, which plays a lot, I think, in his game. When you're used to winning, it makes it that much easier to win."

Brown will enter his senior season as a preseason first team all-Southland Conference selection at the position and coming off a 2014 season that saw him rank third on the team, for the second consecutive season, with 43 tackles. He posted five tackles for a loss last season and had a half a sack along with two pass break ups and three quarterback hurries.

But Brown isn't the only backer with a knack for some hitting.

"The two sophomores, Jacobs and Goins, can really flat out play," said Guidry. "They're not very tall but they are the epitome of Pitbulls. They can run and they can hit, and when they hit, they got a big bite."

The two clashed like a couple of battering rams earlier in the week during the defense's one-on-one drill called the "Pitbull Drill."

Goins (Neville HS in Monroe) appeared in all 11 games last season and finished with 25 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for a loss, and recovered two fumbles while Jacobs (North Shore Senior HS in Houston) saw action in 10 games and recorded 20 tackles, had 1 ½ tackles for a loss and intercepted a pass.

The emergence of sophomore Ed Duplessis has allowed Guidry to alter the linebacker corp by moving preseason all-conference selection and senior Wallace Scott back to his original position at free safety.

"What has really helped is Ed Duplessis," said Guidry. "Ed has come on strong really well during the offseason and in camp, and by emerging like he has, has allowed us to move Wallace to free safety. Ed gives us some depth. He's long, fast and strong."

Tré Porter, a redshirt freshman from New Orleans (Warren Easton HS) is another player that is expected to add depth to the group.

"Tré gives us that depth at the Will linebacker," said Guidry. "We feel like we've got a lot of kids that can really run."

Of the incoming freshmen linebackers, Guidry said to keep an eye on Nederland High School product Sage Seay.

"Seay may have a chance to play this year because he can run and has a lot of range. I think he'll have a chance to play on special teams. Look out for him. He is going to be a really, really good football player."

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#10 Bo Brown: LB; 6' 1"; Senior

#45 Ed Duplessis: LB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#49 Ashari Goins: LB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#42 Christian Jacobs: LB; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#20 Wallace Scott: LB; 6' 1"; Senior

#33 Sage Seay: LB; 6' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Bo Brown
: 6' 1"; Senior
: LB

#45 Ed Duplessis
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: LB

#49 Ashari Goins
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: LB

#42 Christian Jacobs
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: LB

#20 Wallace Scott
: 6' 1"; Senior
: LB

#33 Sage Seay
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: LB